RSS Feedhttps://10.40.239.128/blogs/rss-feed/Blog RSS Feeden{FF1182EB-FB0F-45EC-96EB-DE4EA7B20E8D}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/be-serious-about-safety-guidelines-to-have-fun-on-extreme-roller-coasters/Roller Coasters Can Be Fun and Safe if Guidelines Are Followed<p>&ldquo;The speed and forces that make roller coasters so much fun also are the potential causes of injury in susceptible riders,&rdquo; said Adam Phillips, physician assistant on the Trauma Team at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. </p>
<p>As described on Lagoon&rsquo;s website, &ldquo;Cannibal lifts riders 208 feet and plunges them into a 116&deg; beyond vertical free-fall into an underground tunnel. Cannibal is Lagoon&rsquo;s most thrilling ride, including a 140 foot tall inverted loop and water feature. Riders travel up to 70 mph over 2,735 feet and through 3 inversions.&rdquo;</p>
<p>While that experience may sound fun to many people, it&rsquo;s important to remember there are serious forces at work. As people walk around earth, they experience &ldquo;normal&rdquo; gravity (i.e. 1 G). On high-intensity roller coasters, the G-forces may briefly exceed 4 Gs. Cannibal actually reaches 4.2 Gs. </p>
<p>To put that in perspective, Space Shuttle occupants experienced around 3.5 Gs (sustained) on takeoff and re-entry. A fighter pilot may experience upwards of 8-10 Gs of force temporarily. People often black out around 5 Gs of force.</p>
<p>Phillips said these forces put significant strain on riders&rsquo; musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems. Four Gs of force means a rider&rsquo;s head now weighs four times what it normally does. The muscles, ligaments, tendons, joints, and discs throughout the body must support four times the weight they do at rest.</p>
<p>Healthy riders can most likely withstand these forces without any problems. In fact, most healthy individuals rarely experience new injuries due to these significant forces. However, those with pre-existing conditions may not be able to handle the added stress.</p>
<p>&ldquo;People with pre-existing issues in their muscles or bones or cardiovascular system are already prone to have injuries exacerbated. That&rsquo;s why it&rsquo;s absolutely necessary to follow the safety guidelines posted for Cannibal or other similar rides,&rdquo; said Phillips.</p>
<p>According to the &ldquo;Fun and Safety Guide Sign&rdquo; for Cannibal, the ride is not recommended for pregnant women or anyone with heart trouble, high blood pressure, back/neck/bone injuries or recent surgery or illness. Guests less than 48 inches may not ride and due to the design of the seat restraints, exceptionally large or tall individuals may not be able to ride. </p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;The engineering and safety restraint systems of commercial amusement park rides are highly regulated and regularly inspected. Most of the time, accidents have to do with human error or rider noncompliance with safety rules. Follow the rules and you&rsquo;ll enjoy the ride,&rdquo; Phillips said.</p>Fri, 31 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{938781E5-9CCE-4FA7-8468-2C014301ADFD}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/help-for-seniors-with-mental-health-and-substance-abuse-issues/Help For Seniors With Mental Health and Substance Abuse Issues<p>&ldquo;As baby boomers age there&rsquo;s growing demand for mental health services and growing awareness of how depression and anxiety really can impact people&rsquo;s lives,&rdquo; says Ted Wander, MD, medical director for inpatient psychiatry at LDS Hospital . &ldquo;By treating these issues adequately we can improve not only the mental health of our seniors but their physical health as well.&rdquo;</p>
<p>To accommodate the growing geriatric and mental health needs for seniors, geropsychiatry units are opening in hospitals across the country, including <a href="https://intermountainhealthcare.org/locations/lds-hospital/" target="_blank">LDS Hospital</a>&nbsp;in Salt Lake City, Utah. </p>
<p>&ldquo;The purpose of our new unit is to help treat and stabilize patients so they can return to their homes, other care facilities, and to their families and friends," Dr. Wander adds.&nbsp;</p>
<p>LDS Hospital&rsquo;s new geropsychiatry unit focuses on the unique health needs of aging patients who suffer from substance abuse, depression, anxiety, dementia, or experience sudden changes in their mental well being.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;The focus is on anxiety, depression, and the assessment of cognitive status,&rdquo; says Dr. Wander. &ldquo;Many people aged 60 to 80 are wondering if their memory loss is normal or their family members may be concerned about their cognitive abilities so we help out with that, as well."&nbsp;</p>
<p>While depression and sadness might seem to go hand and hand, many depressed seniors claim not to feel <em>sad</em> at all. They may complain, instead, of low motivation, a lack of energy, or physical problems. In fact, physical complaints, such as arthritis pain or worsening headaches, are often the predominant symptom of depression in the elderly.</p>
<p>According to an article on <a href="http://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/depression-in-older-adults-and-the-elderly.htm" target="_blank">HelpGuide.com</a>, older adults who deny feeling sad or depressed may still have major depression. Here are the clues to look for:&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li>Unexplained or aggravated aches and pains</li>
<li>Feelings of hopelessness or helplessness</li>
<li>Anxiety and worries</li>
<li>Memory problems</li>
<li>Lack of motivation and energy</li>
<li>Slowed movement and speech</li>
<li>Irritability</li>
<li>Loss of interest in socializing and hobbies</li>
<li>Neglecting personal care (skipping meals, forgetting medications, neglecting personal hygiene)</li>
</ul>
<p>The very nature of depression interferes with a person's ability to seek help, draining energy and self-esteem. For depressed seniors, raised in a time when mental illness was highly stigmatized and misunderstood, it can be even more difficult&mdash;especially if they don&rsquo;t believe depression is a real illness, are too proud or ashamed to ask for assistance, or fear becoming a burden to their families, according to the to HelpGuide.com article&nbsp;</p>
<p>If an elderly person you care about is depressed, you can make a difference by offering emotional support. Listen to your loved one with patience and compassion. You don&rsquo;t need to try to &ldquo;fix&rdquo; someone&rsquo;s depression; just being there to listen is enough. Don&rsquo;t criticize feelings expressed, but point out realities and offer hope. You can also help by seeing that your friend or family member gets an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.&nbsp;</p>Thu, 30 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{9C2C8054-B4BD-4189-828F-29AC9FC115BB}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/avoiding-west-nile-virus-and-other-mosquito-borne-illnesses/Avoiding West Nile Virus and Other Mosquito Borne Illnesses<p>Besides leaving annoying, itchy spots behind, some mosquitoes carry diseases that can have lasting effects on people. West Nile Virus is the most common and most heard of human disease, but recently mosquitoes in the U.S. have been infecting people with chikungunya. Most symptoms are pretty rare &ndash; about one in twenty people will come down with flu-like symptoms. In about one percent of those cases, these diseases can cause neurological illness (swelling of the brain or surrounding tissue), long-term joint pain, paralysis and even death. There is no treatment or vaccine for these diseases.</p>
<p>Fortunately, it is easy to prevent &ndash; don&rsquo;t get bit! &nbsp;Bug repellent with DEET, applied as directed, is a safe and effective way to protect yourself and your family. Even children and pregnant women should wear repellent. Other repellent options include sprays with picardin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLD) or PMD, or IR3535. Covering up with long sleeved, light weight clothing can also deter mosquitoes.</p>
<p>In Utah, there are about 50 different types of mosquitoes and they will pester people at all hours. However the breeds that carry disease are almost exclusively night time biters &ndash; especially the hours from dusk to about midnight. That&rsquo;s why it is especially important to protect yourself &ldquo;from dusk till dawn.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Prevention experts also say there are things you can do to &ldquo;mosquito-proof&rdquo; your yard and home:</p>
<ul>
<li>Repair screens on doors and windows to keep mosquitoes out</li>
<li>Drain standing water in tires, buckets, or similar water-holding containers these are place for mosquitoes to breed</li>
<li>Change the water in birdbaths at least weekly</li>
<li>Flush pot drain pans regularly</li>
<li>Treat ornamental pools and ponds for mosquito larvae (commercial products available at most home improvement stores)</li>
<li>Repair leaky faucets and springs </li>
<li>Clean clogged rain gutters and down spouts</li>
</ul>
<p>For more information on how to protect yourself and your family, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) web site at <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/Features/stopmosquitoes/index.html">http://www.cdc.gov/Features/stopmosquitoes/index.html</a>. </p>Thu, 30 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{303BD8E7-CB1F-4CAF-8DDC-5FE11460FD52}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/convenient-maybe--but-consumer-reports-says-laundry-detergent-pods-too-dangerous-to-recommend/Convenient, maybe. But Consumer Reports says laundry detergent &#39;pods&#39; too dangerous to recommendKids often have trouble distinguishing between candy and other &ldquo;look-a-likes.&rdquo; These highly concentrated detergent packets come in bright colors and shiny packages that interest and entice small children. This is especially true of &ldquo;oral explorers&rdquo; &ndash; children ages one to two years old that like to put things in their mouth.
<p>Since 2012, more than 33,000 calls were made to poison control centers &hellip; that&rsquo;s an average of one call an hour! According to Consumer Reports, these numbers continue to grow despite warnings and packaging changes. Because of this, the popular consumer product review group has deemed all products in this category as &ldquo;too dangerous to recommend.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The Utah Poison Control Center has recorded the following call volumes associated to the pods: </p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<blockquote>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Total Calls&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For individuals under age 6</p>
<p>2012&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 167&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 150</p>
<p>2013&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;158&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 144</p>
<p>2014&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 206&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 186</p>
</blockquote> <br />
<p>The reason is when children eat these concentrated detergent packets, it often leads to hospitalization for difficulty breathing, excessive vomiting, severe eye burns and irritation, temporary loss of vision, and even death. While some kids show no symptoms, others will show mild to severe stomach upset, wheezing, gasping, or being very sleepy. </p>
<p>If you are concerned that your child has eaten something dangerous &ndash; laundry packet or other substance &ndash; call the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 or see your health care provider.</p>
<p>Of course, preventing a child from eating these packets (or anything else they aren&rsquo;t supposed to) is the surest way to keep your child safe. It is important to keep laundry packets in their containers and up high out of reach (keeping the packets in the container, rather than loose on the washing machine, seems to help deter children for getting into them). Remember, even if they are set on top of a machine, children are very inventive for getting a boost from anything in the area (including piles of laundry!). Packets can also be shook from a machine during spin cycles. Child-deterrent cabinet locks, or latches on laundry room doors, keeps them out of harm&rsquo;s way and safe from accidental poisoning.</p>Tue, 21 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{4B7D150F-A097-430C-93BD-E9238B065547}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/take-the-6-weeks-of-fitness-challenge/Take the 6 Weeks of Fitness Challenge!<p style="line-height: 115%;"><strong>Welcome to 6 Weeks of Fitness! </strong>Here&rsquo;s how it works:</p>
<ol>
<li><span style="line-height: 115%;">Text "Livewell" to 91234 to sign up for our 6 Weeks of Fitness text campaign and other LiVe Well messages.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 115%;">Receive a fun fitness prompt each week for six weeks, starting July 28.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 115%;">Complete each activity and reply with the keyword. When you do you&rsquo;ll be entered to win a #6Weeks prize!</span></li>
</ol>
<p>
See what you can accomplish over the course of six weeks. Each week we&rsquo;ll share the fitness prompt and extra resources here on the blog too. Let's get moving!</p>
<strong style="line-height: 115%;">WEEK 1 &ndash; July 30, 2015</strong>
<div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Fitness Prompt:</span> Add some energy to your afternoon. Stand up right now and do 15 jumping jacks. </p>
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Extra Tips</span>: You are taking fitness into your own hands. <a href="https://intermountainhealthcare.org/live-well/move-well/habits/increase-your-activity/ideas-to-make-it-happen" target="_blank">Check out more simple ways to be active</a>.<br />
&nbsp;
<div>---&nbsp;&nbsp;
<p>Note: Intermountain is required by law to inform you that there is some risk that text messages may not be secure once they leave the Intermountain Healthcare system. By opting in you consent that these communications may be sent to you, despite being informed of this risk.</p>
</div>
</div>Tue, 21 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{45A40803-3817-47D3-BD0D-D56DCCA1F8E6}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/garden-tips-pests-overcrowding/Garden Tips: Dealing with Pests, Overcrowding and Early Harvests<h3>Dealing with Pests</h3>
<p>The picture below is of one of the squash plants I transplanted earlier this summer. As you can see there is a problem with the leaf, looking perforated with leaf spots. After looking at the leaf under a microscope, enlarging the view 30 times, it turns out the culprits causing the damage are <a href="http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/insects/thrips/thrips-outdoors.aspx" target="_blank">thrips</a>. These little pests carve up plants to get to the juices and leave unsightly marks.</p>
<div style="position: relative; display: block; height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="/~/media/Images/Modules/Blog/Posts/2015/thrips-leaves.jpg?h=467&amp;w=700" alt="Thrips are a common garden pest that can cause unsightly damage to plants" style="height: 467px; width: 700px;">&amp;amp;amp;nbsp;</iframe></div>
<p>There are several insecticides you can use to beat back the thrips, including: horticultural oil, insecticidal soap, neem oil, pyrethrum spray, spinosad, and a product called Triple-Action Plus.</p>
<h3>Plant/Bed Overcrowding</h3>
<p>While you want to maximize your garden space, it&rsquo;s easy to plant too much in too little space and be faced with overcrowding. Looking at your garden, you may wonder, &ldquo;Did I plant too much? Should I get rid of plants?&rdquo; The answer depends on if too many plants in that space will affect your harvest and which plants are most important to you.</p>
<p>If a plant crowds out another plant that is more important, you can prune back the other one to keep it in check. If that doesn&rsquo;t work then you may have to pull something. Remember, a weed is any plant out of place, and that can include an aggressive vegetable plant that is disturbing a plant that is more important to you.</p>
<h3>Pick Beans and Squash While Young and Tender</h3>
<p>Beans and Squash are coming on and it is a good idea to pick them when they are young and tender. This will encourage the plants to continue to produce them for you. A plant&rsquo;s desire &mdash; if it has one &mdash; is to reproduce offspring by setting ripe fruit and or seeds; if you stop this genetic tendency by picking often, before they are fully ripe, then they will usually keep producing for quite some time, giving you a greater harvest.</p>
<h3>Getting the Most Out of Broccoli</h3>
<p>If you are growing broccoli, and still would like tender heads, you can probably get them by pruning off all of the seed stalks that are no longer tasty or tender. If you are vigilant with this it will probably work, allowing you to get some new tender heads. They will not be as big, but still should taste delightful.</p>
<h3>The Many Uses of Bulb Onions</h3>
<p>Onions can be eaten at almost any stage of development. The stems of bulb and bunching onions can be cut and used like chives.&nbsp; If you cut a stem, leaving most of the stems intact, the bulbs will still develop just fine and you get several harvests from the same onion plant. I like to cut the tender new growth into small pieces and add them to my omelets. I do this from several plants throughout the season so as not to sap too much energy from one plant. The bulbs will continue to grow larger throughout the summer and the stems will eventually fall over, which is normal. This indicates the onions are mature.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.garden.org/foodguide/browse/veggie/onions_harvesting/501" target="_blank">Learn more about harvesting onions</a> </li>
</ul>Mon, 20 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{655FDC8D-1D16-4C6A-890A-76A90C535B72}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/summer-safety-staying-safe-thunder-rolls-lightning-strikes/Summer Safety: Staying Safe When the Thunder Rolls and Lightning strikes<p class="p1">Colin Grissom, MD, a critical care physician and wilderness medicine expert at Intermountain Medical Center, gives some helpful advice on how to stay safe from lightning while you&rsquo;re out enjoying the backcountry this summer.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Plan ahead for lightning</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Before you head out to the backcountry, check the weather forecast for thunderstorms.</li>
<li>The majority of thunderstorms in Utah occur between 2 and 6 p.m. so try not to be out at that time. &ldquo;While storms are not entirely predictable in Utah, they most often come in the afternoon,&rdquo; said Dr. Grissom. &ldquo;So if you want to hike up onto a mountain ridge, do it in the morning so that you can be done before the afternoon thunderstorms roll in.&rdquo;</li>
<li>Whenever you plan a trip to the wilderness, make sure your plans include how you will respond to lightning. Share the lightning response plan with everyone in your group.</li>
</ul>
<p class="p1"><strong>When is it time to get nervous about lightning?</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>If you hear thunder, you are in danger of being hit by lightning.</strong> &ldquo;If you see distant lightning or hear thunder, you need to get off the ridge and seek shelter right away,&rdquo; Dr. Grissom says. &ldquo;If you&rsquo;re swimming or boating, head to shore immediately and get away from the water. Remaining in an open exposed area when there&rsquo;s lightning in the area is a bad idea.&rdquo;</li>
<li><strong>Signs of an imminent lightning strike</strong> include a lot of static electricity in the air, an ozone smell, nearby crackling sounds or a blue haze &mdash; known as &ldquo;St. Elmo&rsquo;s Fire&rdquo; &mdash; around objects and individuals. &ldquo;If your hair is standing on end, it is time to seek shelter,&rdquo; Dr. Grissom said.</li>
</ul>
<p class="p1"><strong>Where should you seek shelter if you&rsquo;re caught in a storm?</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Your best option is to seek shelter in a large enclosed building away from doors and windows.</li>
<li>A car with a metal roof (not a convertible) with the doors closed can also provide adequate shelter.</li>
<li>If you&rsquo;re far from cars and buildings, you can seek shelter inside a deep cave, far into a dense forest, or in a deep ravine.</li>
<li>DO NOT seek shelter near isolated trees, cellphone towers or any tall structures. Tents, shallow caves, and open shelters like picnic canopies and lean-tos should also be avoided.</li>
<li>If there&rsquo;s no shelter available and lightning is imminent, get as low as you can and assume the &ldquo;<em>lightning position</em>&rdquo; &mdash; crouch down with your feet close together and if possible get on top of something that will insulate you from the ground, like a pack, sleeping pad or coiled rope. &ldquo;The &lsquo;lightning position&rsquo; is a last resort, but it can help you avoid risk of injury,&rdquo; Dr. Grissom said. &ldquo;It is also a good idea to remove any metal objects from your body (like rings, necklaces, and watches) to reduce your risk of burns.&rdquo;</li>
<li>If you&rsquo;re in a group of people, spread out by at least 20 feet since lighting can jump up to 15 feet between objects. This will prevent mass casualties.</li>
</ul>
<p class="p1"><strong>First aid for lightning strikes:</strong> &ldquo;First of all, lightning victims don&rsquo;t carry a residual charge, so you&rsquo;re fine to touch them immediately after the strike,&rdquo;Dr. Grissom said. &ldquo;Lightning often stops the victim&rsquo;s heart, but if you begin CPR right away or use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) if you have one, you may be able to get their heart going again. Lightning victims also often need treatment for burns. You should get them to an emergency department as soon as it is safe.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>What areas in Utah are the most dangerous for lightning?</strong> &ldquo;Anywhere that is high and exposed is dangerous during a lightning storm,&rdquo; Dr. Grissom said. &ldquo;I think the high Uintah Mountains are especially dangerous because they&rsquo;re so high and broad with limited shelter. But anytime you&rsquo;re on a high ridge you&rsquo;re in danger. The bottom line is, get off the ridge and into the valley as soon as your hear thunder.&rdquo;</p>Fri, 17 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{92250491-1E25-4D4D-A657-6FF26E3DC5D6}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/fall-by-former-president-george-bush-highlights-dangers-seniors/Senior Safety: Fall by Former President George H.W. Bush Highlights Dangers for Seniors<p>In fact, falls are the leading cause of injury, hospitalizations, and deaths for older adults. </p>
<p>&ldquo;We see many patients over the age of 65 who come to our emergency department by ambulance after falling in their homes,&rdquo; said Kristen Gooch, RN, MPH, Outreach and Injury Prevention Coordinator for the Intermountain Medical Center Trauma Program. &ldquo;Many of these falls are preventable and there are resources available to help older adults stay safe.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Experts have identified four key ways to prevent falls among older adults:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Exercise regularly</strong> &ndash; Exercising is a great way to improve leg strength and balance. The exercises should get more challenging over time to help increase strength. Tai Chi programs can be especially beneficial. </li>
<li><strong>Review medications with your doctor or pharmacist</strong> &ndash; Some medications may cause dizziness or drowsiness, or may interact with other medications. Those factors contribute to an increased risk of falling. </li>
<li><strong>Get an annual eye exam and update eyeglasses as needed</strong> &ndash; Poor vision frequently contributes to falls or accidents in older adults. Annual screenings can help ensure eyewear provides the best possible vision, thus reducing the risk of stumbling on something that isn&rsquo;t visible. </li>
<li><strong>Conduct a home safety evaluation</strong> &ndash; There are numerous ways a person can make their home safer, including removal of tripping hazards like floor rugs or power cords, adding grab bars inside and outside of the tub, and improving lighting in the home.</li>
</ol>
<p> The Utah Department of Health, in conjunction with health departments and agencies across the state, offer a free seven-week workshop that teaches seniors exercises and strategies to help them stay strong, active, and independent. The &lsquo;Stepping On&rsquo; program has been proven to reduce falls by 30 percent in older adults. More information on the program can be found <a href="www.health.utah.gov/vipp/older-adults/falls" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{064DBFB5-A5AF-44E7-B766-CC054719178A}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/wedding-ring-injury-sidelines-tv-talk-show-host-jimmy-fallon-ring-avulsion/Wedding Ring Injury Sidelines TV Talk Show Host Jimmy Fallon – Are You at Risk for Ring Avulsion?<p class="p1">The injury &ndash; called ring avulsion &ndash; occurred when Fallon tripped on a rug at home and snagged his ring on a countertop as he fell. The digit was bent completely sideways and required six hours of intricate surgery, including a vein transplant from his foot. Doctors were able to save the finger.</p>
<p class="p1">Although Fallon made the injury seem like it wasn&rsquo;t a big deal, ring avulsion can be serious, resulting in possible amputation of the finger.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Here&rsquo;s what happened.</strong></p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;My ring got caught on the countertop, got stuck there, and pulled my finger off!&rdquo; explained Fallon during his <a href="https://youtu.be/CztT_pBFQv8" target="_blank">Monday evening broadcast</a>.&nbsp;&ldquo;I&rsquo;m getting up and my finger is sideways. It looks completely fake, like a cheap horror movie where you see a broken finger &ndash; that&rsquo;s what it looks like.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>The Three Grades of Ring Avulsion</strong></p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;When a standard wedding ring is caught on something, chances are the skin and tissue will fail long before the ring,&rdquo; said Bill Gowski, MD, a hand and microvascular surgeon at <a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/hospitals/tosh/Pages/home.aspx" target="_blank">TOSH &ndash; The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital</a> in Murray, Utah.</p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;In a ring avulsion, the ring acts like a tourniquet and pulls tissue or skin off the finger. The injury can range from discoloration of the finger due to internal damage of the tissue, or complete removal of skin and tissue from the bone, known as de-gloving,&rdquo; added Dr. Gowski.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Low Grade</strong> &ndash; The finger received some trauma and may experience swelling. However, there is blood flow to the finger, so treatment typically involves placing a splint and letting the injury heal.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Medium Grade</strong> &ndash; During the fall, the artery in the finger was stretched and the inner layer of the artery is damaged, causing the blood to clot and restrict blood flow into the finger. Treatment would require an artery graft to replace the damaged one and restore blood flow to the finger.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>High Grade</strong> &ndash; The ring may actually de-glove the finger bone, removing skin and tissue completely off of the bone. In this instance, amputation is highly likely.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Life After a Ring Avulsion Injury</strong></p>
<p class="p1">If you suffer a ring avulsion, you should go to the emergency room so the injury can be evaluated and graded appropriately. You may be referred to a hand specialist who can evaluate and provide the best treatment option based on the grade of the injury.</p>
<p class="p1">People who suffer a medium grade injury should get back 80% of the sensation in the finger, but physical therapy may be required to get back the full range of motion in the finger.</p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;In many cases, having a stiff finger long term is a likely outcome,&rdquo; said Dr Gowski. &ldquo;Jimmy may have trouble playing the guitar like he used to. The extent of recovery is typically dependent upon the severity of the initial injury. With therapy and the passage of time, he may be able to get the finger back to normal, but at the very least I would expect some minor deficits in motion and/or sensation.&rdquo;</p>Wed, 15 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{97BFF2AB-836F-4A50-83BE-B8F6B48F3C91}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/four-safety-tips-to-keep-you-safe-in-the-great-outdoors/4 Tips to Keep You Safe in the Great Outdoors<p>Crews from the Intermountain Life Flight air rescue programs are kept busy every summer helping people who&rsquo;ve become stranded on a ledge or are injured from a fall while in the backcountry. </p>
<p>Their advice: &nbsp;Follow the Boy Scout motto of &ldquo;Be Prepared&rsquo; &ndash; it just may save your life. </p>
<p>Here are four safety tips from Life Flight paramedic Cathie Cooper you should consider before heading out into the wilderness and beyond:</p>
<p><strong>1. First and foremost: </strong>Tell someone where you are going and when you will be back so that in the event of injury or illness they know where you are and when to seek help.</p>
<p><strong>2. Make wise decisions before you head out</strong></p>
<p>-Ask yourself: Are you in proper physical condition for the trip?</p>
<p>-Plan to stay hydrated - take water (maybe even a water filter).</p>
<p>-Wear proper clothing and footwear.</p>
<p>-Pack the "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Essentials" target="_blank">10 Essentials</a>".</p>
<p>-Know how to find the safest route if you&rsquo;re hiking; avoid hazardous terrain.</p>
<p>-Know the weather forecast for the area.</p>
<p><strong>3. Consider the consequences of the decisions you make while you&rsquo;re in the backcountry</strong></p>
<p>-Always stay with your group &ndash; don&rsquo;t wander off alone</p>
<p>-Be cautious when jumping or running on rough terrain, or when swimming</p>
<p>-Avoid risky situations, like off-trail traveling or scrambling</p>
<p>-Control your ego &ndash; you don&rsquo;t have to prove yourself to anyone by doing something stupid</p>
<p>-Be responsible for yourself, partners and children</p>
<p><strong>4. If you have a problem, remember that a rescue may take a while &ndash; so pack food, water, clothing and other resources you may need. Here&rsquo;s why: </strong></p>
<ol>
<li>It takes time for search and rescue teams to deploy</li>
<li>Other factors that may delay a rescue include weather, terrain, and time of day or night</li>
</ol>
<p>Just like the Boy Scouts, being prepared before entering the backcountry may mean the difference between life and death.</p>Tue, 14 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600